Snoop Lion a.k.a Snoop Dogg and T.I. have joined forces with community members as part of a major campaign to put an end to gun violence.

The League of Young Voters, BET Network, along with community leaders and celebrities held an open discussion on gun violence on Saturday evening as part of the “No Guns Allowed” initiative.

“I lost so many friends from gun violence. I see so many people being killed innocently from gun violence. It affects me. It has a personal feeling on my heart,” Snoop Lion told CBS2′s Brittney Hopper. The league started the campaign to empower youth nationwide to try and put an end to gun violence after finding inspiration in Snoop Lion’s new song, “No Guns Allowed.”

“No one is going to solve our problems but us. We need to get in the streets. We need the street heat. And we need to get out here and solve our own problems,” said Dr. Rob Baker of the League of Young Voters.

“I had to realize that a gun didn’t save my life. God saved my life,” said T.I., who was once indicted on gun charges.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) says having T.I. and Snoop Lion talk about gun violence speaks volumes. “Now that they’re providing some leadership, I think we can get people listening who would not have been listening before,” she said.

A recent study by the Children’s Defense Fund has found that homicide is the leading cause of death among African-Americans between the ages 15 to 24.